THE LEPER QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 873, 24 April 1903, Page 4

THE LEPER QUESTION.

INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER.

During the presence in Auckland of Dr Mason (chief health officer for the colony) on Saturday he was waited upon by a reporter in reference to the question of the alleged leper station atMotuihi. The explanation which was obtained, whilst it puts the matter in a different light from that in which it has previously been presented, shows beyond doubt that prior to the recent protest at least there was an intention on the part of the Health Department to place a supposed leper on the island referred to, notwithstanding tho disclaimer made a few days ago by Sir Joseph Ward (Minister for l’ublic Hoaltb). The explanation now given is that what was proposed was merely in the nature of a temporary expedient. In reply to tho representative’s question, Dr Mason stated that it was never proposed to establish a permanent lazaret at Motuihi. It is true, ho says, that u small one-roomed building has been erected on the island, but tho purpose of this was merely to temporarily isolate one leper pending the selection of a permanent station in some remote spot. The leper referred to is a native, who, Dr Mason states, was taken off a railway errriage at Mercer somo months ago. An attempt was made to isolate him in an inland locality, but ho refused to stay there, and ho is now at large somewhere in the district. Dr Mason said it was considered that an isluud such as Motuihi would bo the most suitable place for the patient until some arrangement of a permanent nature could bo made. It was not intended, he stated, to bring any patients from other districts to Motuihi, and ho says a similar arrangement in regard to a leper in Canterbury has been mado in that district, where there was no public outcry such as has been raised in Auckland. The Auckland people, the chief health officer considered, should bo thankful to the Department for doing its best under the circumstances and proposing to remove the afflicted person to a spot where he would not bo a source of danger to the community until a permanent refuge is found for him. “ Supposing,” he continued, “ the man came into Auckland from the country and got on to a tramcar, and was discovered to be a leper, would not the people and the press want to know what tho Health Department was doing ? ” The representative pointed out to Dr Mason that the wisdom and necessity for isolating a leprous patient was never called into question by those responsible for tho recent protest, and that on it becoming known for the first time that a building had been erected at Motuihi for the purpose indicated, it was a perfectly reasonable assumption to conclude that the intention was to establish a permanent leper station on the island. In reply to this Dr Mason said he considered an explanation might have been suught before any complaint was made. In reply to a question as to what was to be done with the alleged leper referred to, it was elicited that no definite decision has been arrived at. During his visit to the Cook Group the chief health officer will inquire as to the suitableness of Penrhyn Island (one of the new possessions) as a leper station. A number of lepers are already on this island.